The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-15

but his heart had shown no cast iron pro-
pensities toward Mile. He had given
her up during Will Marston's last term
in college, but as that elegant rival never
appeared afterward, he became hopeful
again, and patiently waited until Millie
was ready to accept his honest, protect
ing love.
She did not pretend to return his de-
votion, but she had learned his true
worth, and, judging him in the light of
q prospective companion fer life, she con-
sidered him infinitely preferable 10 her
Aunt Sarah.
1t is only fair to Mr.. Preston to say
that she was happier in her domestic re-
lations than many who marry their first
loves. Few, if any, husbands turn out
to be exactly the same after marriage
that they are before. Mr.. Preston stood
the test of years extremely well, and
when their twentieth wedding ami
versary arrives Mile is contented,
happy matron of 40. A certain mystical
gladness went out of her life when she
parted with her first engagement ring,
but that magical delight belongs only to
youth, and most people use it in some
way or other in the wear and tear of life,
so Miles experience was not exception
ally hard.
Mr.. Preston had prospered in hard
ware, and Mile had handsomer rings
now than the one that Will Marston gave
her.
The love she could not keep had been
resolutely thrust out of her thoughts and
the love that comforted her pain accepted
in its place.
Mile has one son of whom she is Justly
proud. He is sophomore in college
and sports his first silk hat. One winter
evening he came home with eager steps
and sparkling eyes and exclaimed:
''I've had quite an adventure, mother,
and brought you present."
Mile drops her work and smilingly
bids him to tell her all about it. With
boyish impetuosity her relates his story:
"A lot of us fellows were skating on
the lake and a new student named Fred
Marston got into an air hole. hap
pened to be near him and helped him
out. BY that time the other boys came
and we got him to his room and sent
for DIR. West, who soon brought him
around all right. AS the doctor was
and found that his purse was gone. He
must have lost it in the lake. He tried
to make light of the loss, but it was plain
to see that he was considerably cut up
on account of it. l stayed with hin
while after the other boys went out, and
he talked to me very confdentially. 1t
seems that his father is dead and he has
a guardian who is rather strict and makes
terrible row if he spends more than his
allowance. l guess Marston is a little
wild and inclined to make his money fly,
but his guardian holds o tight rein over
him. The loss of his purse embarrassed
him greatly, because it contained all the
money he could get until next quarter.
He had been spending pretty freely, and
only saved enough for necessary expenses.
He said he had a few things in his trunk
that he guessed he would have to pawn,
and asked me if I would be kind enough
to do it for him.
"Marston is an awfully aristocratic fell
low, and he didn't want the boys to know
he was hard up for money. They might
not believe the story about the guardian,
he said, and his prestige in school would
be lowered.
II told him / would gladly do him q
favor, and he gave me an old fashioned
watch and chain and three rings. He
said the things had belonged to his father.
One of the rings was evidently intended
for a lady. He said he didn't care if ]
sold that outright, as he hadn't any use
for it and didn't know how his father
came by it. 1t was small diamond set
rather uniquely, and took kind of
fancy to it. The funny part of it was
that it had your name, 'Millie, engraved
inside of it. / have been saving up
money for some time to buy you birth
day present, and the thought occurred to
me that perhaps you might like a ring as
well as anything. You have such a
pretty hand, little mother, diamonds
seem to fit it, so / told Marston would
buy it, and here it is. If you don't care
for it can dispose of it to the Jew pawn
broker, as Marston suggested, and buy
you a new one from the jeweler, only
could not buy as fine stone, because
have not saved money enough
Miles face has grown trifle paler
during her sons recital, and her fingers
tremble slightly as she receives the ring.
1t is the same that Will Marston gave
her that spring morning 30 long ago,
when they sat in the sunshine upon the
doorstep, with the breath of sweetbriar
and apple blossoms oil around them.
Two youths had saved their spending
money to buy that ring for her. Was it
any wonder that she answered:
lit was very kind of you, dear, to
wish to make me present, and think /
would prefer this ring to any that Mr..
Banks, the jeweler, has in his store. y
Stanley Vernet in Detroit Free Press.